Originally Posted by
wudwlkr
OSHA does not say that everyone on a crew has to wear arc rated FR. What OSHA says is that the work has to be evaluated by the employer to determine if any workers have potential exposure to arcs. If so, then THOSE employees must wear FR with an arc rating at least equal to the level of potential exposure while doing that work. If there is no potential exposure then there is no need for FR. Period. Some companies choose to mandate the wearing of FR by all workers at all times just to keep things simple. That is their option, goes above and beyond what OSHA requires and is perfectly acceptable. Other companies choose to take the time and effort to train their workers as to when and what type of FR is needed and allow their workers to put on and take off as needed. Again this is perfectly acceptable as long as there is also proper supervision to make sure procedures are properly followed. A true groundman probably has almost no potential exposure to an arc. Not qualified to climb so the only rescue he would be doing would be to lower a bucket using lower controls, no exposure to arcs. If they would be assisting in work involving energized secondaries then yes there would be potential exposure at that time and they would need to be equipped with FR. But otherwise, no. If on the other hand, as someone else pointed out, you have an individual who does not wear FR just to keep from having to go up and work, that is a management/supervision issue not a OSHA/FR issue.